Two presidential candidates for NLD

On Friday, two houses of Myanmar parliament elected U Htin Kyaw and U Henry Van Htee Yu of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) as two of three vice presidents nominated for a presidential race after qualification scrutiny. Both the presidential candidates from NLD are close associates of their chief Aung San Suu Kyi and won with a mass majority to join the presidential race.

U Htin Kyaw, elected by the group of presidential electoral college of the House of Representatives, won against Sai Mauk Kham, nominated by the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), Xinhua reported.U Henry Van

U Henry Van Htee Yu, elected by the group of presidential electoral college of the House of Nationalities , won against U Khin Aung Myint, nominated by the USDP.

Meanwhile, the military MPs, which account for 25 percent in the parliament, elected U Myint Swe, current Yangon region chief minister, as the other vice president for the presidential run.

Parliament set three groups representing the two houses and the military MPs to nominate one final candidate each for the presidential run and through voting, the one who wins more votes, will become President while the remaining two will become vice presidents.

Voting for the presidency is expected to be conducted on March 17 or 18 when the Union Parliament reconvenes.

As the most trusted person by Aung San Suu Kyi, U Htin Kyaw was nominated by the NLD as a candidate for presidential run.

Aung San Suu Kyi described U Htin Kyaw as an intellectual with loyalty and discipline, respected by the international community and said he will be liked by the people.Suu Kyi said Myanmar will adopt a friendly foreign policy with all countries.

Since independence, Myanmar has always been adopting a friendly foreign policy with all countries, which is the correct policy for the country, she said. The NLD could successfully implement such a policy, she added.

The new president and two vice presidents will be sworn-in at parliament on March 30. The handover process of the head office of state will be followed up at the Presidential Palace.